Round 11 Match Report

VS Beverly Hills 22nd July 2007

With the coach Michael Pickering away Interstate, it was great to be given the opportunity to coach the side along with the great support of Barry Kerr. We were up against Beverley Hills who were sitting second on the ladder. Coming off our first loss for the season the previous week against team No. 3 Bulleen-Templestowe, the boys were urged to overcome the loss and stamp their authority on the competition to send a message to the final contenders. Having Rory, Ross and Thomas out of the side we knew the team needed to step up to cover the loss of such talent. I must say it was a good team effort to have the three boys on the sidelines supporting their team mates and helping out with match duties.

To the credit of the boys the feeling in the rooms before the match was that of excitement and anticipation. With the odds against us with only two on the interchange bench the boys took on the challenge in the first quarter displaying total commitment to the ball. Our link up out of defence was superb, and our tackling in their 50 was outstanding. It was obvious that Fitzroy are one of the top two sides of the competition with the least goals kicked against them this season. Our link up out of the back line set up the opportunity for our forwards to convert with the outcome at the end of the first quarter reflecting a score of Fitzroy 3.3.21 to Beverley Hills 0.3.3. A great contribution by Michael Cussen, Chris Polidoras and Alex Vella-Horne.

The second quarter started with Beverley Hills finding space and utilising a spare man off each stoppage. As a result, they kicked 3.1 for the quarter against our 1.2, narrowing the gap at half time which had Fitzroy 7 points up, 4.5.29 to 3.4.22. Beverley Hills had a lift in confidence and they jogged off the field whist Fitzroy looked a little dazed by the comeback and knew they had a game ahead of them. If not for the efforts of Sam Baker across the half back line and the sheer strength of Michael Cussen, the run by Jesse Dimond and Isaac Anderson, it could be argued that the gap in the score could have been closer.

The half time mood in the rooms was low key, and the message given to the players was based on the need to move the ball down as quickly as possible to our forward six. Well, not only did they move the ball down quick, their performance was outstanding. They started to look for each other, talk, link up out of defence, back up, tackling and the shepherds applied allowed our team to create run. Chris Polidoras, Jesse Dimond, Jack Atkinson, Nick Brown and Chris Krousoratis were instrumental in our side kicking 7.3 whilst keeping Beverley Hills scoreless during the third term. Our work rate, commitment to the ball and talking proved why Fitzroy are the top side in this competition. The feel at the three quarter time break was electric, all players were pumped and each and every player was full of praise for each other, with the score at 11.8.74 to 3.4.22.

The last quarter started with Beverley Hills kicking the first two goals, however, our boys continued with the pressure in the packs and when competing man on man. The last quarter saw Beverly Hills kicking 4.3 to Fitzroy's 1.2, and although they applied the pressure in the first 10 minutes of the last quarter, our boys never gave in. Just when Beverley Hills thought they may have the edge we applied enough pressure which suppressed any hope they had of matching our score. The final score saw Fitzroy getting up by 32 points, 12.10.82 to 7.7.49.

It would be fair to say that it was a superb team effort to beat this side on their home ground giving them something to think about going into the finals in three weeks time. Special mention must be given to Michael Cussen who never stopped all day with his gutsy marks, tackles and accurate kicking. Chris Polidoras is another player who dominated all day, he was there when we needed him, around the packs, and making position as the “go to” player. Jesse Dimond, who displayed great strength in the backline when needed in the last quarter, demonstrating his ability to play in any position to benefit the side. Special mention to Chris Krousoratis who stepped up in the third quarter to take on the ruck duties and when needed dropped back in defence.

And finally to our boys in defence, once again displaying commitment, focus and sheer strength throughout the game.

Michael will be very proud of the effort put in by the team today.

I wish you all the very best of luck in the final series, I'll be there supporting.

Go Roys,

Grant

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